New York City, like other older urban communities, is largely serviced by a combined sewer system where storm water and wastewater are carried through a single sewer line to the city’s 14 treatment plants. These facilities can manage and treat all the wastewater produced in the city on a dry weather day (1.3 billion gallons on average) and also have the capacity to clean more than twice the dry weather flows on a rainy day. But during intense precipitation events, the storm water exceeds this capacity and overflows can be discharged into local waterways. In an effort to improve water quality, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is building rain gardens, designed to absorb polluted storm water that would otherwise end up into the sewer system.

On Tuesday, July 19th, in New York City, a crane collapsed causing few injuries and disturbance. The accident happened at midday in the Tappan Zee Bridge, while cars were crossing the bridge. "Fox news U.S. " mentioned that five people are injured and two cars crashed trying to avoid the falling crane. The injuries aren't serious but after the event, long delays inconvenienced the drivers.

One World Trade Center (WTC) was awarded the 2015 Best Tall Building Award for the U.S. from The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). WSP, a global engineering and professional services organization, served as structural engineer for the 104-story office tower on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

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The first 3D printed estate in the United States is set to be complete by the end of 2017. The ambitious project is being undertaken by New York City architect Adam Kushner, alongside partners including 3D-printing pioneer Enrico Dini and his D-Shape firm. The estate will feature a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, carport and a 2,400 square foot house in upstate New York.

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A heating and air-conditioning unit weighing several tons fell 30 stories to the ground last Sunday. The incident occurred in Midtown Manhattan after the unit came untethered from a crane lifting it to the roof of an office tower at 261 Madison Ave. Seven people were injured including 5 passers-by and two construction workers.

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Construction has started on one of Manhattans newest skyscrapers. Located at 53 W. 53rd St. the MoMA Tower, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, is to be completed sometime in 2018. Featuring a tapered profile with a roofline staggered across three irregular levels, the 1050-foot tall (82-storey) structure will house 139 apartments and is Nouvel’s first skyscraper in NYC. The tower will also have new public gallery spaces on the second, fourth and fifth floors, into which the neighboring Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) will expand its galleries.

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Legislation introduced by New York City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Queens) would prohibit the exterior and interior lighting at night for roughly 40,000 buildings. The bill is a part of the city’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Decreased lighting usage is of particular interest to meet this goal as 70 percent of New York’s carbon emissions come from buildings in the city. The bill states that a $1000 fine will be issued for non-compliance.

Around 250 firefighters responded last Thursday after a gas main leak caused an explosion that demolished three buildings in Manhattan’s East Village. 22 people were injured, four critically, and two people are thought to still be missing.

The explosion comes only a year after two buildings in Harlem collapsed after a gas leak last March, which killed eight and injured many more. The buildings were served by a 127-year-old gas main. Following the incident in 2014, industry experts warned that utilities in many parts of the U.S. were struggling to maintain or replace antiquated and leaky gas mains in older urban areas. Mains composed of cast iron or steel are the most vulnerable.